Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Detroit Lions have traded Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two future first-round picks, a third-round pick, and quarterback Jared Goff.
Detroit is dealing QB Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two future first-round picks, a third-round pick and QB Jared Goff, per sources. Two former No. 1 overall picks trading places in the first blockbuster NFL trade of 2021.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2021
Many had speculated that the San Francisco 49ers were among the top contenders for Stafford. Instead, the team will now have to face him at least twice a year.
Mike Garafolo reported on NFL Network this morning that he spoke to sources inside the 49ers about the rumors that they were on the verge of trading for Stafford.
"Nope, not us," they told Garafolo.
Detroit drafted Stafford out of Georgia with the No. 1 overall pick in 2009. He completed 339-of-528 attempts (64.2 percent) for 4,084 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions through 16 games in 2020. He has passed for over 4,000 yards in eight of his 12 career NFL seasons.
Stafford, 32, and the Lions mutually agreed to part ways this offseason, and teams almost immediately started reaching out to discuss the possibility of a trade.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch had offered votes of confidence in Jimmy Garoppolo as the team's starting quarterback in 2021. It would appear that Garoppolo's job is safe — for now.